Return of the King: Adesanya gets his belt back

UFC 287 brought the elites of the MMA world back to Miami, FL for the first time in 20 years. In 2003, the landscape of the UFC’s brand looked very different than today. UFC 42 which featured names like Matt Hughes and Robbie Lawler only drew a crowd of 6,700. Last Saturday, UFC President Dana White proclaimed that it grossed $11.9 million passing Madison Square Garden’s numbers at UFC 281 ($11.5 million).

The main event featured the same two Middleweights in Israel “Style Bender” Adesanya and Alex “Poatan” Pereira who met for the first time in the octagon at UFC 281. Pereira had shocked the world by pinning Adesanya against the fence and swung his way to a TKO victory in that first fight. While both fighters had only met in the octagon once, their history fighting each other had gone back years, meeting two times in a kickboxing ring. While Adesanya was an undisputed force in MMA (24-1), in kickboxing he had lost twice to Pereira. With Pereia’s win at UFC 281, the TKO victory was the ultimate equalizer to Adesanya’s undefeated reign in the Middleweight division. No one had yet to solve Adesanya’s striking and elusive footwork, The lone loss had only come from Jan Blachowicz, who defeated him in a Light Heavyweight bout by unanimous decision. After losing his Middleweight Championship belt, Style Bender vowed in a UFC press conference that he would “rip [Pererira’s] head off”. While wearing a dog collar, he said that his inner dog would be unleashed.

On Saturday the talk was all over and it was time for the pair of fighters to meet for a fourth and possibly final time. The first round was pretty back and forth and Pereira’s signature leg kicks were the big takeaway, landing 26 strikes to the lower body to Adesanya’s nine. Pereria also outstruck Adesanya with 15 strikes to the body through the first round. He even opened the second round in a furry. While “Poatan” was off to a hot start, Adesanya’s movements remained calm and calculated. He landed a total of 18 head strikes to Pereria’s 8 and just when his opponent had him pinned against the fence, he unleashed that inner dog. Two big counter left hooks from Adesanya sent Pereria stumbling with the final blow knocking him out cold. Adesanya celebrated in a memorable fashion that looked like it was straight out of a video game. He looked down at Poatan’s unconscious body and used his rival’s signature bow and arrow gesture to signify his victory.

As the Middleweight returned back to the top of his division, Adesanya mic in hand, had something special to say.

"I hope all of you can feel how f---ing happy I am just once in your life,"But guess what? You will never feel this level of happiness if you don't go for something in your own life.” Adesanya said after the fight.

With Adesanya’s win at UFC 287, one thing is clear. The king was returned.

Written by: Isaac Gomez

Return of the King: Adesanya gets his belt back